Highway marking device



Jan; 9, 1968 M. D. PELLOWSKI HIGHWAY MARK INC- DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1967 5 W3 a T P A 0 W M M Jan. 9, 1968 M. D. PELLOWSKI HIGHWAY MARK] NG DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Maroh- L i lmi:

P S ww INVENTOR. EL L 0 WSK/ /l I //l I I MARK D.

BY WM ATTQRNEZKS United States Patent 3,362,305 HIGHWAY MARKING DEVICE Mark D. Pellowski, 411 Hamilton, Winona, Minn. 55987 Filed Mar. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 627,135 4 Claims. (Cl. 94-1.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arcuate metal strip having one end imbedded in a hardenable material in the highway with the other end extending upwardly to provide a visible marking device and to engage the underside of an automobile to provide an audible signalling device. A pair of channel-like members extend outwardly from either side of the hardenable material to receive the arcuate strip, when it is forced horizontally by an automobile, to protect the strip from damage. The channel-like members also serve as highway markers.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application Ser. No. 564,498, filed July 5, 1966, now Patent No. 3,312,156, and having the same inventor.

Background 0 the invention Field of the inventi0n.-In general, the present highway system, especially in the United States, is designed so that there are a great number of instances where additional or different marking devices are necessary. This is especially true in marking various lanes of multi-lane freeways and the like, and where there is merging or exiting trafiic to prevent vehicles from driving in the wrong lane and causing accidents. Also on many streets, turn lanes and the like must be clearly marked to aid the movement of trafiic and prevent accidents.

Description 09 the prior art.A great number of prior art devices are utilized which are either temporarily standing on the highway surface and easily displaced or are fixedly attached to the highway, but project upwardly above the highway, even after being bent horizontal, so that there is great wear thereon when a vehicle moves over them. Each of these prior art devices is subject to wear and possible breakage when the weight of a vehicle is imposed thereon, because the device is bent and resting against the rough surface of the highway. Also, many of these devices are extremely complicated to install or are not connected to the highway and are easily displaced.

Summary of the invention This invention relates generally to roadway or trafiic marking devices and more particularly it relates to a novel resilient highway marking device for visibly and audibly signalling the location of traffic lanes, highway center lines, and the like, and to means for protecting the device to reduce or prevent wear and breakage thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved highway marking device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved highway marking device having means associated therewith for substantially reducing and/or preventing wear and breakage thereo.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved highway marking device which is easily installed and removed, and which will not inadvertently become dislodged during use.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing the high way marking devices of the present invention as installed along the center line and edges of a highway;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in top plan of one of the marking devices;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View as seen from the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view as seen from the line 6-6 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view as seen from the line 7-7 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view as seen from the line 8-8 in FIGURE 2.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIGURES 2 through 8, details of the individual marking devices are shown therein, and it will be noted that the same includes an elongated strip element normally disposed in a generally vertical position and represented generally by the reference numeral 10. The strip element 10 is preferably formed from a resilient sheet material, such as thin spring steel, for example. As shown particularly in FIGURE 2, the strip element 10 is arcuate in cross section whereby to increase its resiliency and tendency to return nearly instantly to its upright position after being released by a vehicle coming into contact with the same. The top is of sufficient height to be struck by the bumper or the front and/ or under part of the vehicle, and because of its resiliency and transversely curved construction, will be bent over and caused to vibrate to repeatedly strike the under parts of the vehicle and thus produce a loud noise thereby warning the driver of danger as the vehicle is driven over the strip.

The lower end portion, generally designated 11, of the strip element 10 is adapted for rigid securement in the roadway, whereby the strip element 10 is normally dis posed in a generally upright position, as shown particularly in the drawings. The lower end portion 11 of the strip element 10 is mounted or secured within the roadway in a novel manner. A recess 12 is drilled or otherwise formed in the surface of the highway, as shown particularly in FIGURES 3 through 5. Then, the lower end portion 11 of the strip element 10 is positioned within the recess 12, and a hardenable material 13, such as a thermal setting plastic or concrete for example is poured within the recess 12 to generally fill the same. Prior to curing or hardening of the material 13, the strip element 10 is flexed or bent over in opposite directions to a generally horizontal condition, whereby to form arcuate surfaces 14 which extend outwardly from the opposite sides of the strip element 10 as shown particularly in FIGURES 4 and 5. These arcuate surfaces 14 are provided for the purpose of eliminating a sharp edge adjacent to the strip element 19 which would otherwise be formed. With the arcuate surfaces 14, the strip element 10 may be flexed or bent more easily, and the life and durability of the strip element 10 is greatly increased. By using the strip as a tool, the arcuate surfaces are tailored to the characteristics of the individual strips which characteristics may not be identical in resilience and shape due to manufacturing tolerances, or may be made of different noise making materials.

Although the hardenable material 13 can be any thermal setting plastic or concrete in the preferred embodiment, it is anticipated that the material 13 will be of a plastic consistency which will adhere to concrete and will have the properties of being water proof, quick hardening, easily removable by dissolving and have a resistance to salt and other chemicals which may be spread upon the highway. There are a large variety of well known polymeric compounds containing all of these characteristics which may be utilized. In particular, polymeric compounds such as chlorinated rubber and chlorinated rubber mixed with other chemicals to improve certain characteristics, such as drying time, consistency, etc. can be utilized. If the hardenable material 13 has all of the characteristics specified, there will be little or no danger of damaging the device or the highway because of water, salt, or chemicals entering the recess 12. Also, if the hardenable material 13 is resistant to salt and chemicals there will be little danger of this material eventually corroding or otherwise becoming damaged. If the hardenable material 13 has the characteristics of being quick hardening and easily removable, the present devices can be quickly installed and easily replaced in the event of changes in traffic patterns or the like.

The lower end 11 of the strip element 19 has an arcuate notch 15 therein. By forming the arcuate notch 15 in the lower end 11 of the strip element 10, two sharp points are formed at either edge thereof which aid in forcing the strip element into the hardenable material 13 in the event it is preferred to place the hardenable material 13 in the recess 12, and then insert the strip element 10. The upper end 17 of the strip element 10 has an arcuate upper edge, which edge matches the groove 15 in the lower end 11 in the embodiment. If this form in adapted the strip elements 10 can be formed from a continuous length of material. Also, the strip element It) has a plurality of holes 16 formed therethrough adjacent the lower end 11 to aid in holding the strip element 10 firmly engaged in the hardenable material 13. The hole 16 may be punched or otherwise formed so that the material surrounding the hole 16 extends axially outwardly therearound, as illustrated clearly in FIGURE 5. This axially outwardly extending material around the hole 16 forms a shoulder in the hardenable material 13 which prevents the removal of the strip element 10 prior to dissolving or otherwise softening the hardenable material 13.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a first strip receiving means generally designated 20 is positioned to the right of the strip element 10-on the surface of the highway. The strip receiving means 20 is comprised of an elongated member 21 and a triangular or arrow-head shaped member 22. The elongated member 21 is positioned so that one end is adjacent the arcuate surface 14 of the hardenable material 13, and the other end extends away from the strip element 10 in the direction in which the strip element 10 lies when it is bent in a horizontal position. The triangular shaped member 22 is positioned at the end and abutting the elongated member 21 to form an arrow pointing away from the strip element 10. All of the outer edges of the strip receiving means 20 are beveled so that once the strip receiving means 20 is positioned on the surface of the highway, it is extremely difficult to snag or otherwise book an edge thereof. An elongated depression 23 extends from the end of the elongated member 21 adjacent the strip element It to the opposite end of the triangular shaped member 22. In the strip receiving means 20, the depression 23 is formed to receive the concave side of the strip element 10 therein. As can be seen in FIGURE 8, when the strip element It is lying horizontally in the depression 23 in the strip receiving means 29, the surfaces of the strip element 10 are parallel with the depression 23 and any amount of force applied downwardly thereon will simply be a compression force with no possibility of breaking due to shear forces or the like.

A second strip receiving means generally designated 25, comprising an elongated member 26 and a triangular shaped member 27, is positioned to the left of the hardenable material 13 and the strip element 10 in a fashion similar to that described with reference to the strip receiving means 20. The strip receiving means 25 has a depression 28 extending the length thereof, which depression 28 is designed to receive the convex side of the strip element 10 when it is in a horizontal position. As can be seen in FIGURES 6 and 7, the depression 28 actually consists of two grooves having an arcuate shaped portion therebetween which matches the convex side of the strip element 10. When the strip element 10 is lying in the depression 28, the convex side thereof is parallel with the sides of the depression 28 so that any downward forces applied to the strip element 10 are simply compression forces rather than shear forces.

Each member 21, 22, and 26, 27 of the strip receiving means 20 and 25, respectively, has a plurality of triangularly shaped anchor points 39 extending downwardly therefrom. The anchor points 30 are designed to be received in the expansion joints of the highway and to substantially prevent horizontal movement of the strip receiving means 20 and 25 during installation. In general, the strip receiving means will be installed while the hardenable material 13 is still in the semi-plastic state and just prior to the formation of the arcuate surfaces 14. By installing the strip receiving means 20 and 25 prior to the formation of the arcuate surfaces 14, the surfaces 14 can be formed to exactly coincide with the depressions 23 and 28 in the strip receiving means 20 and 25. In addition to the anchor points 30, the strip receiving means 20 and 25 will be firmly aifixed to the surface of the highway by some dissolvable adhesive means. The adhesive means should be dissolvable so that either of the members of either strip receiving means 20 or 25 may be replaced in the event of damage or changing highway patterns.

The strip element 10 may be provided with various coatings 35 of differing colors or patterns for delineation of various traffic lanes. For example, the color of the coating on the protected inside or convex surface, can be different from the color on the outside or concave surface. In general, it will be desirable to coat the concave surface of the strip element 10 with a particular color and the strip receiving means 20 will be coated with the same color. Also, the convex side of the strip element 10 will be coated with a particular color, and the strip receiving means 25 will be coated with a similar color. In this fashion, particular directions of trafiic will be clearly indicated.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 1, the marking devices may be located adjacent the opposite shoulders of the traffic lanes, as desired in some installations. It should also be noted that the marking devices located adjacent the shoulders could be made smaller than those in thecenter of the highway. Further, in some installations, it may be desirable to provide the strip elements 10 at the opposite shoulders of the highway, as shown in FIGURE 1, with coatings 35 on the upper end portions thereof of colors differing from the coating upon the strip element 10 positioned along the center line of the highway.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of this invention, further modifications and im-- provements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire: it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not: limited to the particular form shown, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A highway marking and warning device comprising:

(a) a narrow elongated strip of arcuate spring steel;

(b) at least a portion of said strip adjacent one end being formed to protrude outwardly from the plane of the strip;

(c) means for securing and supporting said one end of said strip in the roadway with the width of the strip being transverse to the length of the roadway and the height of the strip'above the roadway being suf- 5 v 6 ficient to strike the underparts of a vehicle whereby 3. A highway marking and warning device as set forth to produce a warning noise; in claim 1 wherein the strip receiving means includes a (d) said supporting and securing means including arreplaceable direction indicating means at either end therecuate surfaces for supporting said strip when flexed; of fixedly attached to the upper surface of the highway. (e) strip receiving means afiixed to the upper surface 5 4. A highway marking and warning device as set forth of the highway adjacent said securing means and in claim 3 wherein the direction indicating means in- 7 extending outwardly from the arcuate surface of said eludes arrow-head shaped members having beveled edges securing means in opposite directions; and to substantially prevent catching the edges.

(f) said strip receiving means having a first portion with an elongated depression therein extending in a 10 References Cited first direction and adapted to receive said strip there- UNITED STATES PATENTS in with the concave side positioned downwardly and a second portion with an elongated depression there- 2,519,145 8/1950 Manly in extending in an opposite direction and adapted to FOREIGN PATENTS receive said strip therein with the convex side posr- 15 tioned downwardly. 562,414 12/ 1957 Belglum.

2. A highway marking and warning device as set forth 1,242,305 8/1960 Francein claim 1 wherein the protruding portion of the strip 77,555 3/1955 Netherlands' includes at least one hole punched in said strip so as to leave material extending axially of the hole about the 20 JACOB NACKENOFF, 'y Examine!- edge thereof. 

